Guilty Pleasures: Reality TV

Ah, guilty pleasures.

We all have them. I have a long-standing history of being inexplicably drawn to TV shows, movies, and books that many (wrong) people agree just aren’t very good. It’s why I make an event out of inviting friends over to watch terrible movies. Just this morning, a friend teased me about my teenage obsession with Dawson’s Creek, an obsession I still tap into from time to time.

Pacey Joey Dawson's Creek OTP
Pacey+Joey 4-eva!

I don’t watch a ton of reality TV, but I watch enough to be a little ashamed of myself. I’ve watched all of the Real Housewives franchises and practically count down the hours until new episodes of Orange County and Beverly Hills are on. I’ve watched all seasons of Road Rules (aw, remember Road Rules?) and most seasons of The Real World when it was great:

     

I LOVED Laguna Beach and The Hills. 

Laguna Beach Kristin Cavallari

Laguna Beach Lauren Conrad

The Hills Lauren Conrad Gif Lo Bosworth

Lauren Conrad The Hill Gif

Lauren Conrad The Hills Justin Bobby
Wasn’t Lauren so wise, y’all?

(If you missed out on the dramaaaa of Laguna Beach, this will actually sum it up for you quite nicely.)

I’m not really into competition shows about singing or dancing, or shows about finding love (unless they’re on VH1.) In fact, I still quote from Rock of Love, I Love New York, and Flavor of Love. 

Flavor of Love Flavor Flav I Love New York
Because really, how can you not?

I wrote previously about the reality train-wreck, True Tori (RIP). I marathoned Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars over the weekend and giggled through every episode.

As I said, part of me is a little embarrassed about my affection for these shows, but at the same time they can be SO entertaining and I don’t think I’m alone when I say that sometimes they just make me feel better about myself. Not to be judgmental because lord knows I’ve said some dumb things in my time, but at least nothing like this has ever come out of my mouth:

Rock of Love
Seriously, where do they even find these people?